Here is how Samsung regained market leadership title from Xiaomi in Q2 2018

After falling short of Xiaomi's market share in last two quarters, Samsung regained the lead spot by capturing 29% market share, one per cent more than that of Xiaomi in the second quarter of 2018

South Korean electronics giant Samsung has toppled Chinese smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi as the leading smartphone brand in India, according to the Hong Kong-based Counterpoint report. After falling short of Xiaomi’s market share in last two quarters, Samsung regained the lead spot by capturing 29 per cent market share, one per cent more than Xiaomi’s 28 per cent market share in the second quarter of 2018.

“The success of Samsung during the quarter can be attributed to its refreshed J-series; it launched more models than any other brand across multiple price points during the quarter. These new launches have some of the most popular and sought-after features like dual cameras, 18.5:9 aspect ratio display and facial unlock. Additionally, the strong offline distribution and aggressive marketing campaign around its J-series helped Samsung to gain not only market share but also mindshare during the quarter,” said Karn Chauhan, a research analyst at Counterpoint.

ALSO READ: Apple's iPhones trail Samsung, Google devices in internet speeds

The report also highlights that Apple managed to capture only a mere one per cent market share during the quarter, its lowest in recent history. The OnePlus, on the other hand, became the fastest growing premium smartphone brand with the growth of a whopping 284 per cent in the quarter. It also became the top premium smartphone brand in more than Rs 30,000 segment.

Here are the key highlights of the report:

• In the smartphone segment, Samsung regained its lead in Q2 2018 with 29 per cent market share -- thanks to strong performance of models such as the Galaxy J6, Galaxy J2 2018 and Galaxy J4 focusing on the budget segment.
• Xiaomi recorded its highest ever shipments in India during the same quarter.
• Vivo shipments increased sequentially driven by new launches, celebrity endorsement and aggressive campaign around IPL 2018.Its V9 model became its most popular V-series smartphone ever.
• During the quarter, OPPO launched its sub-brand Realme in a bid to increase its online presence. Realme, which debuted in partnership with Amazon, quickly managed to grab 1 per cent market share of the total smartphone market due to strong-perceived value-for-money, unique industrial design and positive customer feedback for its initial model.
• OnePlus (284 per cent), Honor (188 per cent) and Xiaomi (112 per cent) were the fastest growing smartphone brands during the quarter. Honor continues to retain its share among top five brands while OnePlus led the premium (more than Rs 30,000) segment for the first time ever.

Article Source : BS

Vivo launches V7 with 24MP selfie camera in India at Rs 18,990

Available in Champagne Gold and Matte Black colours, Vivo V7 will be available in retail stores from Nov 25

After a successful run of its selfie-focused flagship smartphone V7 Plus in India, Chinese smartphone maker Vivo on Monday launched V7 with the 24MP selfie and 16MP rear camera for Rs 18,990.

Available in Champagne Gold and Matte Black colours, Vivo V7 will reach retail stores from November 25. The device was available for pre-booking orders on Flipkart from Monday.

"With the launch of V7, we are offering consumers another compelling proposition featuring an excellent camera and powerful performance at a competitive price point," said Kent Cheng, chief executive, Vivo India.

The device with 4GB RAM and 32GB ROM has 5.7 HD "FullView" display and houses 3000mAh battery. The device comes with "Moonlight Glow" and "Face Access" features.

Coming to India in late 2014, Vivo has established itself as one of the top smartphone brands in India.

According to the International Data Corporation's (IDC) latest "Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, Q3 2017", Vivo is at the fourth position in the country after registering a healthy 153 per cent annual growth.

The company has a manufacturing unit in Greater Noida with a distribution network across the country, both online and offline.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Vivo V5s: At Rs 18,990, it's a wallet-friendly smartphone for great selfies

The phone has neat looks and the Apple design influences are apparent

Vivo is one Chinese brand that has created a niche in the Indian smartphone market for its top-of-the-line camera and music experience.

With the smartphone penetration maturing and demand for high-end devices retailing at competitive prices continuing to grow in the country, Vivo, with its strong offline presence, has been investing substantially in the domestic market.

The company has differentiated itself by introducing the "Moonlight Glow" feature in its Vivo V5 and V5 Plus devices, raising the bar for closest Chinese rivals like Oppo and Gionee when it comes to selfie-focused smartphones.

Taking design cues from Apple, Vivo has now launched Vivo V5s at Rs 18,990.

Here is what works for the device.

The phone has neat looks and the Apple design influences are apparent. One of great features is the fingerprint sensor which is located on the front, below the display, and works just like Apple's Touch ID on iPhone, unlocking the device in a jiffy.

The device runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow, but it is a modified version called Funtouch OS.

During the review period, the phone was fast and responsive. Playing games like "Asphalt 8: AirBorne" was smooth and social media apps like Instagram and Snapchat worked without hiccups -- even while adding filters.

Read more

क्रिकेट जगत में क्रांतिकारी परिवर्तन लाने वाले इंडियन प्रीमियर लीग के 10वें साल में कई बदलावों की दरकार महसूस होती है

क्रिकेट जगत में क्रांतिकारी परिवर्तन लाने वाले इंडियन प्रीमियर लीग के 10वें साल में कई बदलावों की दरकार महसूस होती है

पिछले साल इंडियन प्रीमियर लीग (आईपीएल) शुरू होने से पहले ट्वेंटी-20 क्रिकेट के इस टूर्नामेंट को बेहद सख्त इम्तिहान माना जा रहा था। ऐसा मानना गलत भी नहीं था क्योंकि मार्च के आखिरी दिनों में जब यह टूर्नामेंट शुरू हुआ था, उस समय भारत के खिलाडिय़ों को एक के बाद एक दिग्गज अंतरराष्टï्रीय टीमों के खिलाफ बीस-बीस ओवरों के मुकाबले खेलते हुए तीन महीने हो चुके थे। उन तीन महीनों में भारत ने ऑस्ट्रेलिया और श्रीलंका को टी-20 मुकाबलों में धूल चटाई और बांग्लादेश में टी-20 एशिया कप में खिताबी जीत भी दर्ज की। उसके बाद भी उन्हें आराम नहीं मिला और टी-20 विश्व कप में सभी से दो-दो हाथ करते हुए टीम सेमीफाइनल तक पहुंचने में कामयाब रही। उसके बावजूद आईपीएल बेहद मनोरंजक एवं रोमांचक रहा।

उस आईपीएल की खास बात यह थी कि उच्चतम न्यायालय की तरफ से नियुक्त न्यायमूर्ति आर एम लोढ़ा समिति की सिफारिशें आने के बाद वह पहला आईपीएल टूर्नामेंट था। खास बात यह भी थी कि उस टूर्नामेंट से ठीक पहले चेन्नई सुपरकिंग्स और राजस्थान रॉयल्स की दिग्गज टीमों को टूर्नामेंट से बाहर कर दिया गया था। उनकी जगह दो नई टीमों राइजिंग पुणे सुपरजाइंट्स और गुजरात लॉयंस को शामिल किया गया था। ऐसी सूरत में 2016 के टूर्नामेंट की कामयाबी को लेकर चिंताएं होना लाजिमी था। चिंता उस समय बढ़ भी गई, जब उसे शुरुआत में टेलीविजन पर उतने दर्शक नहीं मिले, जितने उससे पिछले सालों में मिलते आए थे।

लेकिन दो हफ्ते के भीतर ही इस टी-20 लीग का खुमार एक बार फिर पूरे मुल्क पर चढ़ गया और टीवी रेटिंग एक बार फिर चढऩे लगीं। टूर्नामेंट खत्म होने पर पता चला कि लीग के दर्शकों की संख्या साल भर पहले के आंकड़े से तकरीबन 88 फीसदी बढ़कर 36.12 करोड़ तक पहुंच गई थी। टूर्नामेंट के पहले साल यानी 2008 के संस्करण में दर्शकों की संख्या से तुलना करें तो 2016 में तकरीबन ढाई गुना दर्शक आईपीएल को हासिल हुए थे। दर्शकों के साथ ही विज्ञापन से होने वाली कमाई के मामले में भी प्रदर्शन बहुत शानदार रहा। पिछले साल आईपीएल को प्रायोजकों के विज्ञापनों ने तकरीबन 1,100 करोड़ रुपये की आय हासिल हुई थी। इन आकंड़ों ने एक बार फिर साबित कर दिया कि आईपीएल अपने रास्ते में आने वाली तमाम बाधाओं से पार पाने में कामयाब रहा है। Read More

Just like any other Chinese smartphone

The Chinese-manufactured Smartphone segment in India is a heavily crowded space with the likes of Xiaomi, LeEco, Oppo, Vivo and Gionee battling neck to neck to achieve the numero uno spot in terms of market share.

The latest International Data Corporation (IDC) report reveals a change, with Vivo and Oppo making it to the top five smartphone vendors for the first time, based on the number of units they shipped.

But for Gionee, the journey to the top is far from over. Its ambitious Gionee S6, priced at Rs 19,999, is pitted against the Oppo R7 Lite, but does it have what it takes to win the race? Let us find out.

Gionee, like any other Chinese model does not have a stand-out identity of its own like a Moto X Turbo edition or an Asus Zenfone as it has startling similarities to other Chinese models. Keeping that aside, it has done a pretty decent job with the unibody aluminium build and the rose gold colour adds to the phone's looks. It is comfortable to hold and the button placement enables you to use it with one hand easily.

The phone has been designed keeping in mind the aesthetic appeal of the present generation. In terms of hardware, the model weighs just 148 g and can easily slide into your pocket. It boasts of a 13-megapixel (MP) rear camera with LED flash and a 5MP front camera. A 5.5-inch 720p high-definition AMOLED display coupled with a Gorilla Glass 3 for protection is sure to give you a good movie watching experience.

The camera performance is impressive as pictures clicked in daylight show good clarity and colours. However, low-light shots aren't that great as certain amount of noise slithers into the picture, but overall quality is acceptable. A range of shooting features such as the professional mode, ultra-pixel mode and a barcode scanner adds on to the list of your options. The non-removable 3,150 mAh battery lasts for more than a day when put to real world usage.Read More.

See more Info about news Technology Smart Phones.

Vivo V3 Max: Performance to the max

Vivo recently launched the Vivo V3 and V3 Max, boasting of a super-fast fingerprint scanner and overall a powerful phone. I got my hands on the V3 Max. The rose gold metal back and stylish finish makes it look similar to the iPhone 6S plus. So, in terms of appearance the phone is a looker.

The Vivo V3 Max comes with a 5.5-inch full HD display. The colours are sharp and watching videos on the phone is a delight. The phone runs the Funtouch OS based on Android 5.1 Lollipop. Usually, I have a problem with custom OSes, but Vivo's Funtouch managed not to get on my nerves. The phone has a feature called 'Dynamic Sliding Effects', which basically animates the way you scroll through your app drawer. Swiping up on the home screen brings up the control centre. And though it seems novel on Androids, it is a standard feature in iPhones. So one can't help but think, whether Vivo is just trying to knock off iOS at places where its own design lacunae exist.

The phone houses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 processor with 4 GB of RAM. This is hands down my favourite part - testing a phone's performance. 4 GB of RAM is more than enough for a heavy smartphone user. So, I installed as many as apps as I could and took the phone out for a spin. First, I tried opening the camera app - which is slow to load in most phones - but to my surprise, there was no lag. Next, I played Order and Chaos - a RAM-heavy online game - the phone didn't lag or heat up. So far, so good.

Next on my list was its camera - a 13-megapixel (MP) primary and an 8MP secondary. The photos are clear and sharp; there is no colour loss evident. Low-light photos are better than most but still not the best. The front camera clicks decent selfies and its beauty mode has a hilarious feature called 'Makeup'. Basically, after you select the beauty mode, the 'Makeup' feature will let you choose from different filters called 'Candy', 'Cool', 'Social', etc. Once selected, these filters will make your face appear as if you were wearing make-up. At the risk of sounding sexist, it is safe to say that this feature will attract a lot of attention from women.

The phone has a more-than-enough 3,000-mAh battery which lasted for about one-and-a-half days on a full charge and with heavy usage. It has a battery saver mode which is pretty effective. It supports Qualcomm's Quick Charge 2.0 which boasts of two hours of music playback on a five-minute charge. I tested it out and went through my entire music collection. Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised.

The Vivo V3 Max takes multitasking quite literally. It has a split-screen feature which lets you use two apps simultaneously. I tried it out by watching a video and chatting with a friend on WhatsApp.

But the showstealer is the fingerprint sensor. Located at the back of the phone, the sensor is lightning fast. Once your fingerprint is registered, it wakes your phone the moment your skin makes contact with the phone. I've used and reviewed various phones with fast fingerprint sensors, but the V3 Max is hands down the fastest.

Priced at Rs 23,980, the Vivo V3 Max is a pretty good phone with decent specifications. But it may lose out to competitors such as OnePlus which offer similar specifications at a lower price.